A howl breaks the silence of the cold night. It’s as cold as the dark side of the moon, but we do not shiver.

We are the direct descendents of the original dire wolves,who were the interpreters of the moon and stars. It is almost time for the arrival of full moon; a time where fates are shown.I am Zack, leader of the dire wolves. We have dominated the northern mountains for generations, but things are about to take an interesting turn. The sky has been cloudy for a week now, and that isn’t a good sign.

I flick my tail at my most loyal consultant, Hilda.

“Any omens? The moon has not-” I freeze. The full moon has come and it sends chills down my spine. The moon isn’t silver. It glints orange before it disappears into the clouds.

“Did you see that? It’s a Ritual Moon on the night of full moon. What can this mean?” Hilda gasps, clearly aghast. I narrow my eyes. This is an omen that confirms my worst fear - my arch-nemesis, Mordred, an insane and vicious wolf, is back. I exiled him a few years ago, but I am not surprised that he has returned. His objectives are far from ambiguous. He is cruel and seeks only power.

“Hilda, fetch Shadow. We are going on a little spy mission. Tell the others to stay on guard.” I order briskly. Hilda bowsand scurries off.

Logically, Mordred would wait for the perfect time to launch an attack. But he’s gotten cleverer; he probably suspects we know already. So what is his plan?

Hilda, Storm and I scavenge the territory, but find no signs of intruders. A wolf explodes out of the bushes, and I scramble away. With my head spinning with ideas, I lead my friends away.

“Storm, get back and call for help. Be quick!” I call over my shoulder.

We come face to face to a large, hunched form of a black wolf. “Going somewhere, Zack?” He sneer contemptuously. It was Mordred.

I wish I could say that I was fearless, but the truth is, Mordred’s presence makes me shudder. Steadying my voice, I reply. “Leave now, before things get complicated. I’m giving you one chance.”

Mordred snorts and gives me a “you’ve-got-to-be-kidding” look.

“I’m not going anywhere, not until I am the leader of the dire wolves!”

“We’ll see about that.” Says a voice. My heart leaps with joy. It was Storm, along with Hamish and Jasper, my trusty companions. My heart iss pounding, my ears are alert. Will Mordred back down?

“Really? I am so scared!” Mordred exclaims sarcastically. “I have a few tricks too.” He flicks his tail and four other wolves appear.

It seems like we are running out of options. So much for being a leader. It’s time to use the backup plan – attack!

Hamish, a cute but distracted wolf with shaggy fur hurls himself at me. With a swipe of a paw, I trip him.“You dope! That should teach you to focus! The enemy is over there!” I snarl.

Hamish looks embarrassed. Muttering apologies and pardons, he scampers into the fray. With a sigh, I follow him. I need more discipline for times like this.

Although our enemies are skinny, they are exceptionally strong. I am fighting for all our lives. The battle rages on, but we are winning. Slowly,Mordred notices. Enraged, he spits and advances broken a sweat yet. I clearly don’t have a chance in a one-on-one combat. But what if I lure him to the cliff?

I slowly back up to the edge, pretending to surrender. The edge is already weak and unstable. It could break any moment. Mordred laughs and pounces. I dodge but with his weightand mine combined, the rocks began to break. As quick as lightning, I jump to the safe, solid ground above. Mordred is not as lucky. He is a second too late and I see the shock register on his face. I almost feel sorry for him, as he disappears beneath the rocks.

My friends come to my side and Jasper starts to climb down the slope.

“No, it’s fine,” I say. “Even if he survives, he will never be able to climb those mountains again, not in his condition.”

Confidently, I lead my friends back home. I will not have to worry about Mordred anymore. We will be safe, for a long time. I lift my head to gaze at the moon. A waxing crescent shines brightly, a sign of new beginnings...